Coupling structure

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a coupling structure which facilitates work of coupling an end portion of a cable to an object to be coupled. The present invention relates to a coupling structure that couples one end of a first cable and another member. The coupling structure includes a coupling portion that couples the one end of the first cable and the other member, and a protection member that slidably houses the coupling portion. The protection member has a first opening portion which is provided at one end portion of the protection member and through which the first cable is inserted such that the first cable and the protection member are relatively movable, and a second opening portion provided at the other end portion of the protection member and from which the first cable is extendable. The coupling portion has an inclined surface that is inclined from the other member side toward the first cable side so as to abut on the second opening portion and guide the coupling portion inside the protection member in a state where the coupling portion is positioned on a radially outer side of the second opening portion when the coupling portion is relatively moved with respect to and housed into the protection member. Thus, the present invention has good coupling workability.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A coupling structure that couples one end of a first cable and one end of a second cable, the coupling structure comprising:
 a coupling portion, having a first cable side and a second cable side, that couples the one end of the first cable and the one end of the second cable, and 
 a protection member that slidably houses the coupling portion: 
 wherein the protection member has a first opening portion which is provided at one end portion of the protection member and through which the first cable is inserted such that the first cable and the protection member are relatively movable, and a second opening portion provided at another end portion of the protection member and from which the first cable is extendable; 
 the coupling portion has an inclined surface that is inclined from the second cable side toward the first cable side so as to abut on the second opening portion and guide the coupling portion inside the protection member in a state where the coupling portion is positioned on a radially outer side of the second opening portion when the coupling portion is relatively moved with respect to and housed into the protection member; 
 at least one of the first cable and the second cable is an inner cable of a control cable that is comprised of the inner cable and an outer casing; 
 an auxiliary member to be housed inside the protection member is fixed to one end side of the outer casing, 
 the auxiliary member includes a first sliding portion which has a first planar portion and a second sliding portion which has a second planar portion opposing the first planar portion and provided with a space allowing the coupling portion to be interposed between the first planar portion and the second planar portion, and 
 when the coupling portion is relatively moved with respect to and housed into the protection member, the coupling portion slides on the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion and is housed inside the protection member as the auxiliary member is housed inside the protection member. 
 
     
     
       2. The coupling structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion has an engaging portion fixed to the one end of the second cable or the one end of the first cable, and an engaged portion provided on the one end of the first cable or the one end of the second cable and engaged with the engaging portion. 
     
     
       3. The coupling structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the inclined surface in a cross-section perpendicular to an axial direction of the coupling portion has a shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of an inner cavity of the protection member.